Introduction

Women and men have long tried many methods to prevent pregnancy. Prior to
modern methods of birth control, women relied on withdrawal or periodic abstinence.
However, these methods often failed. According to Donna Drucker, a historian who is
currently writing a book about the history of contraception “the history is a huge topic
and really complex, it usually goes back-and-forth tussle between men and women over
who controls contraception in a heterosexual relationship. For most of recorded history
and even into the ancient past, men had total control over whether they used
withdrawal.” Also, according to her condoms became part of the reproductive repertoire
somewhere around the 18th Century. During this time, some women used herbal
methods, like pennyroyal, but they tended to be very dangerous (Rothman, 2018).

The issue of sex education has long been a controversial one. There are two
basic types of sex education which are abstinence-only and comprehensive.
Comprehensive education advocates abstinence as the primary defense against
unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and HIV/AIDS, it also
addresses the inevitability that some adolescents have or will engage in sexual
behavior. Providing information about contraception and how to have “safer” sex is an
integral part of comprehensive sex education (Malawi, 2011).

The giving of condoms in schools is a much-debated aspect of some

comprehensive programs. In contrast, abstinence-only programs discuss abstinence, or
refraining from sex until marriage, as the only guarantee of protection from the growing
epidemics of teenage pregnancy, STDs, and HIV/AIDS. Condoms play a key role in
preventing HIV infection around the world.

Advantages

Everyone would agree regarding the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted
dieses is a serious problem in sexually active children and teenagers. Nowadays,
teenagers have a more curious mind than other people. They have the tendency to be
reckless when it comes to trying new things, most especially things that spark
inquisitiveness. Also, they are being influenced by their peers or the internet. An
example of this is drinking alcohol and having sex at a very young age. Giving
contraception to them does not mean that we are tolerating the act of having sex, it is
for their safety, to avoid any future mistakes that they may commit.
 Schools should be able to give contraceptives to all students. In no way does
giving contraceptives to students encourage learners to participate in premarital sex.
Instead, it allows them to participate in such actions the option to practice safe sex.
Though not having sex is the preferred method that parents and educators hope for, in
the real-world people do participate in premarital sex with or without protection, and
having protection is the better of two evils.

Most teenagers are aware that having sex can result in sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) and pregnancy. Although most teenagers are aware of the
consequences of having unprotected sex, some will choose to proceed without
protection anyway. In many cases, the decision to have sex without protection is due to
carelessness. However, there are instances in which teenagers want to use protection
but unable to get it. Teenagers generally do not want to talk to their parents about their
sex lives and in most cases will not consider asking them for help in obtaining
contraceptives. Another reason teen have trouble obtaining contraception is that they
are too afraid to purchase it in public (Disabito, 2014).

The Department of Health (DOH) plans to distribute condoms in schools as part

of its “business unusual” strategy amid the sharp rise in the number of HIV and AIDS
among the youth in the country. The DOH also urges parents to teach sex at home as
part of the strategy. According to Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial in a press conference
for the World AIDS Day 2016 she stated that “as soon as we thresh out the strategy
with the Department of Education (DepEd), we can distribute (condoms) after providing
them proper counseling.” Ubial also added that “of course, we also have to prepare the
school authorities, teachers, principals, healthcare providers” (Aurelio, Enano, Santos
2016). It would be beneficial to the nation as a whole if students had easier access to
contraceptives. They need to be educated about sex and be safe.

Data shows that from 1984 to October 2016, a total of 38,114 HIV cases were
recorded, with 32,099 tallied from 2011 to 2016. Among 15 to 24 years old, there were
10,279 HIV cases during the period, of which 9,066 were tallied since 2011 (Aurelio,
Enano, Santos 2016).

Prevention is better than a cure, better access to education and contraceptives

means fewer heartbreaking decisions for people to make later on. It won’t stop teenage
pregnancy but it will go a long way to support students to take preventive measures.
Ubial said that “as soon as the child asks you a question, be honest, say it outright.
(Don’t) talk about the bees and the bird. Talk to the child as if you’re discussing any
topic under the sun. Be factual. Don’t beat around the bush. Don’t even use analogy.
Just go straight to the point. I think that has been proven in other many countries that
that’s the way to inform the youth.” Gundo Weiler a representative of the World Health
Organization (WHO) said that educating the youth would enable them to protect
themselves better (Aurelio, Enano, Santos 2016).

High schools should provide contraception to their students because doing so will
give teenagers the option to have sex – something they will do anyway – while being
able to protect themselves. They will not have to worry about having enough money to
purchase the protection, nor will they have to worry about being seen out in public or
have to discuss their decision with their parents if they feel uncomfortable. School-
provided protection could also help parents by reassuring them that their children will
always have access to protection and that the risk of their child becoming pregnant or
contracting an STI has been greatly reduced. If high schools started to provide students
with contraception, the number of teen pregnancies would be greatly reduced and
students would feel better about their decision to have sex (Disabito, 2014).

Disadvantages

On the other hand, the distribution of contraceptives to high school students

would mean that we are tolerating the act of having premarital sex, which is contrary to

public moral. People of their age should not be doing the act of carnal knowledge.
Students should wait and focus on what they should be accomplishing now in this stage
of their development.

It is the duty of the school to discuss and educate their students regarding the act
of having sex. However it would be inappropriate to distribute contraceptives such as

condoms, pregnancy pills, etc. According to some teachers, it comes with responsibility

and therefore students should not be having sex. They could not also see themselves

giving condoms to their students saying “protect yourself while having sex” . The

responsibility of the school is to teach according to what they expect . Teachers and

educators should not distribute contraceptives in schools, but should continue to

educate their children as to how to deal with their sexuality. Indeed, that education is
important that if educators just distribute contraceptive they would be encouraging the
children to get sexually involved at the very young age and along with it , there are many

factors which are negative that come with being involved sexually.
 Some opponents of sex education and condom availability programs argue that
these programs violate the right of parents to educate their children about moral
behavior and religious values. They are argued that school should be a place for
learning academic subjects, not how to put on a condom. If teenagers openly received
condoms in school instead of in bathrooms or from friends who have had them in their
pockets for months, they would be more willing to use them.

The education department of the Philippines said that it would not allow the
distribution of condoms in primary and high school because the law only mandated the
agency to provide sexuality education. According to the education assistant secretary
Tonisito Umali “we want to be sensitive to what the parents feel and we got the
feedback that they don’t agree with the idea. Parents think this will send a wrong signal
to our students that it is OK to have premarital sex, to have sex while you’re a minor so
long as you are protected.” (France-Presse, 2017)

Access to contraceptives is a contentious issue in the Philippines, with the

influential Catholic Church opposing laws and programs seeking to distribute condoms
to the poor. The modern world has trouble understanding the Church’s stance on
contraception because the world does not know the purpose of sex. The writer Frank
Sheed said that “modern man practically never things about sex.” He dreams of it,
craves it, pictures it, drools over it, but never pauses to actually think about it. Sheed
continued: “Our typical modern man, when he gives his mind to it at all, thinks of sex as
something we are lucky enough to have; and he sees all its problems rolled into the one
problem of how to get the most pleasure out of it.” (Evert, 2017)

References
Aurelio J., Enano, J., Santos, T. (2016) DOH To Start Giving Out Giving
Condoms in Schools Next Year. Retrieved from
(https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/849926/doh-to-start-giving-out-condoms-in-schools-
next-year). Retrieved on February 21, 2019

Evert, J (2017) Why is the Catholic Church Against Contraception. Retrieved

from (https://ccli.org/2017/07/why-is-the-catholic-church-against-contraception/)
Retrieved on February 21, 2019

Kavinya T. (2011) Opinions and Distribution of Condoms in Primary and

Secondary School. Retrieved from
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3615327/) Retrieved on February
21, 2019

Rothman, L (2018) What to Know About the Surprising Modern History of

Contraception. Retrieved from (http://time.com/5405987/history-of-
contraception/) Retrieved on February 21, 2019
Uy, J. (2016) Condoms For High Schoolers: DepEd Gives DOH Green Light.
Retrieved from (https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/854129/condoms-for-high-
schoolers-deped-gives-doh-green-light) Retrieved on February 21, 2019